The number of children sickened by high levels of lead in tainted applesauce pouches has continued to grow to 24 in Georgia.
The latest tally includes 14 confirmed cases, according to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there are also 9 probable cases and one suspected case. The total number of 24 cases is up from 20 cases in early January. An age breakdown of the Georgia cases was not available, but Nydam said most or all are children.
The recalled pouches — sold under three brands: WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis — have been linked to 404 confirmed or suspected illnesses in 43 states, primarily in children, according to the latest information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Cases of lead poisoning began appearing in late October and the products were recalled Nov. 9. Despite the recall, some of the products remained on the shelves of some Dollar Stores in the U.S. as recently as Dec. 19, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.